THE Labour Party is to send its regional officer to West Somerset next week to try to settle a bitter rift between Socialist district councillors.

Roger Hutchinson wants to act as a neutral chairman for the four councillors to discuss whether to continue to co-operate with the council's Conservative-led cabinet.

The group split when Cllr Simon Stokes took up a cabinet vacancy after the resignation of Labour group leader Eddie May.

A by-election is now likely to take place to fill the Williton seat previously held by Mr May.

A successful Labour candidate would effectively hold a casting vote on the issue of the group's cabinet participation.

Cllr Stokes and his Alcombe colleague Cllr Ivor Gibbons both wanted Labour to be involved in cross-party cabinet decisions.

However, Cllrs David Banks and Keith Turpin both favoured pulling out of the arrangement.

Cllr Stokes last week accused Cllrs Banks and Turpin of quitting the Labour group in protest at his involvement with the cabinet.

But this week he accepted neither had completed any paperwork to confirm resignation.

"Myself, Ivor, and Eddie certainly recall them at the last group meeting saying they were leaving the group, and I feel we ought to be able to take their word for it," he said.

Cllr Stokes said he made it clear he would take part in a meeting chaired by Mr Hutchinson, but would stay on the cabinet unless there was a majority decision against him.

He said: "I hope Labour will win the Williton seat and I accept whoever it is will in effect have a casting vote.

"Until such time as I am voted off by a majority, I intend to remain on cabinet.

"I would prefer to see five Labour councillors and me off cabinet, than me in cabinet and only four Labour councillors."

Cllr Banks told the Free Press next week's meeting should allow the group to review progress with the council's cabinet style of operation, as it had agreed six months ago.

The issue of group leader could also be looked at and, if necessary, a nomination made for a cabinet representative.

However, he was not prepared to meet with Cllr Stokes "until he has stood down from the cabinet and we can discuss things on an equal basis".

Mr Hutchinson told the Free Press: "I hope we can come to an amicable agreement within the Labour group and one that will satisfy the party.

"I would like to meet with the group and see what we can sort out.

"I also want to look at the way the council is constituted, as it seems a little unusual."